A team of paleontologists has made a groundbreaking discovery in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco, uncovering the oldest known cerapodan ornithischian dinosaur fossil to date. The fossilized femur is estimated to be around 168 million years old, pushing back the previous record by nearly 2 million years.
The discovery provides new insights into the evolution of early herbivorous dinosaurs and sheds light on a pivotal period in their development. Cerapodans were small, plant-eating creatures that walked on two legs, much like modern birds. The team’s findings suggest that these dinosaurs were crucial to the diversification of plant-eating dinosaurs during the Middle Jurassic.
The fossil was found in the El Mers III Formation, an area known for its Bathonian rock deposits. It features unique grooves and a characteristic head shape that distinguish it from other dinosaur species. The team led by Prof Masato Sakai recognized the fossil as belonging to a cerapodan ornithischian due to these distinct anatomical features.
The discovery places the cerapodans’ evolutionary timeline much earlier than previously thought, suggesting that they began diversifying before the Cretaceous period. This earlier diversification likely played a role in their ability to adapt to different environmental conditions and thrive in various regions during different periods.
The Middle Jurassic period represents a time of profound ecological change and the gradual rise of new dinosaur species. The discovery adds an important piece to the puzzle of early cerapodan evolution, revealing more about their anatomical structure, diet, and ecological niche.
Source: https://indiandefencereview.com/168-million-y-old-dinosaur-fossil-morocco